Ethernet extensibility

The rapidly evolving networking industry introduces new standards and innovation by independent software vendors (ISVs) and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) at a rate that often outpaces the development schedule of operating system providers. Consequently, when ISVs and IHVs want to implement a new functionality that is not supported by a computer\'s operating system, they must develop a customized application which typically requires replacing substantial, if not all, portions of existing operating system networking services.

For example, if an ISV wants to implement some security aspect or proprietary extension to the networking software that is unsupported by the operating system, there are several pieces of software that must first be written by the ISV or another third party to enable connectivity by the new device. The ISV must provide a driver to manage the device, connectivity software that runs whenever the device is enabled, and various experience elements, which determine how connection and disconnection will occur, how connection status will be reported, how ISV profiles will be installed and propagated.

A networked computer with a networking framework that can operate in accordance with a standard protocol may be configured to perform one or more functions that alter or extend processing according to the standard. The framework includes extensibility points and a mechanism to receive components, such as plug-ins, that may perform extensibility functions. The extensibility functions may be selectively executed at the extensibility points.

To identify which extensibility functions are to be executed, and the points at which they are to be executed, profile information may be provided for each network connection. Network profile information may indicate configuration of the extensibility points, including specific extensibility functions to be executed at each extensibility point. This information may be used to configure the extensibility points so that, as the computer operates, the extensibility functions are selectively executed instead of or in addition to standard functions in the framework.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention relates to a computer storage media having computer-executable modules. The modules comprise a profile store for maintaining a profile for each of a plurality of network connections, where at least a portion of the profiles comprise extensibility functions. A plug-in registry may store an identification of extensibility functions provided by networking plug-in components. At least one networking software module may have an extensibility point. During execution by the networking software of a networking operation associated with a connection, the extensibility point selectively initiates action by a networking plug-in component. The networking plug-in may be selected based on information in the profile store for the connection.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of operating a computer configured with components to implement a standard protocol to implement a non-standard protocol. The method comprises configuring the computer to implement the non-standard protocol by installing a module for executing at least one function of the non-standard protocol that differs from a function of the standard protocol. A connection profile identifying the at least one networking function associated with the non-standard protocol implemented in the module is also stored on the computer. Information associated with a network connection is processed using the non-standard protocol, using a portion of the components that implement the standard protocol. At a point in the processing within the standard components, information is processed within the module for executing the at least one function.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a computer system comprising a device and an operating system that has a networking component. The networking component has at least one extensibility point, at least one extensibility interface, and at least one standardized device interface. An adapter for the device interfaces to the operating system through the standardized device interface. A plug-in for implementing a non-standard networking function interfaces to the operating system through the extensibility interface. A profile store identifies operating characteristics of a network connection stores information identifying the device adapter and the plug-in and the at least one extensibility point. In addition, the networking component of the operating system interfaces to the plug-in at the at least one extensibility point during performance of a network operation associated with the connection.